WASHINGTON: Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that it was the duty of the courts to protect the rights of the citizens and keeping the government within the parameters of the law and constitution.

Addressing a gathering at Washington George Town University, the deposed chief justice said that the emergency of Nov. 3, 2007 was in reality martial law against judiciary and media. He said that the Supreme Court in accordance with the Pakistan constitution could take suo motto notice for providing justice to any oppressed.

Iftikhar Chaudhry on this occasion presented evidences relating to the privatization of steel mills and Hasba Act also. Earlier, deposed chief justice visited US Supreme Court, where the Senior Judge, Steven Briar welcoming him told Iftikhar Chaudhry that you were the real chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.